NCJ Number
52805
Date Published
1977
Length
114 pages
Annotation
SERVICE DELIVERY TO BATTERED WOMEN IN STOKE-IN-TRENT AND NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME, ENGLAND, AS WELL AS CHARACTERISTICS AND NEEDS OF THE WOMEN, ARE EXPLORED IN A 3-YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF STAFFORDSHIRE, KEELE.
Abstract
THE GROWING LIBERATION OF WOMEN AND THE CHANGE IN SOCIAL VALUES FROM PERCEIVING BATTERING AS NORMAL TO VIEWING IT AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM ARE SEEN AS REASONS FOR THE RECENT INTENSIFIED FOCUS ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. IT IS NOTED THAT THE NEW CONCERN WITH ABUSE OF WOMEN MAY BE FOCUSED ON THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN OF VIOLENT FAMILIES RATHER THAN THAT OF THE WOMEN. IN 1976-1977 THE FIRST YEAR OF A 3-YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DESCRIBE AND ASSESS THE FUNCTIONING OF LOCAL AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES FOR BATTERED WOMEN. SINCE FINDING BATTERED WOMEN TO INTERVIEW PROVED DIFFICULT, VARIOUS AGENCIES WERE SURVEYED TO DETERMINE THEIR POLICIES. BECAUSE OF CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS, A SPECIAL SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO COUNSELORS AND CHURCHES. STATISTICS THUS OBTAINED ON BATTERING WERE CODED AND COMPUTERIZED. FINDINGS FROM THIS STUDY CENTERED ON A SAMPLE OF 102 BATTERED WOMEN; IT COVERED SUCH ITEMS AS AGE, NUMBER OF CHILDREN, PERSON WHO COMMITTED ASSAULT (73.5 PERCENT BY HUSBAND, 17.6 PERCENT BY COHABITEE), METHOD OF ASSAULT (40 PERCENT PUNCHING), DAY OF THE WEEK OF CONTACT WITH AGENCY (22.5 PERCENT MONDAY), REFERRAL AGENCIES, INITIAL REASON FOR CONTACT, SERVICES PROVIDED, AND LIAISON AGENCIES. THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING LIABILITY BEFORE ALLOTING SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFITS STIGMATIZED WOMEN CLAIMANTS WHO HAD BEEN BATTERED, AND THERE WERE SPECIAL HOUSING PROBLEMS FOR THESE WOMEN. PROBLEMS WITH POLICE TREATMENT OF ABUSED WOMEN, PARTICULARLY, POLICE INSENSITIVITY, WERE LARGELY REFLECTIVE OF THE OUTMODED 1961 OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT, A COPY OF WHICH APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX. IN LESSER DETAIL THERE ARE REPORTS OF INTERVIEWS WITH PROBATION, THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SOLICITORS, AND WOMEN'S AID HOSTELS. EXCERPTS FROM INTERVIEWS WITH THREE BATTERED WOMEN ARE PRESENTED WITH REFERENCES TO THE DOCTOR, THE HEALTH VISITOR, THE LAWYER, AND THE POLICE WHO WERE INVOLVED WITH THE CASE. NOTES FOLLOW EACH CHAPTER, AND THE APPENDIX INCLUDES QUESTIONNAIRES AND LETTERS. PROPOSALS FOR METHODOLOGY AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD YEARS OF THIS STUDY ARE ALSO BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. (FCW)